Sunday, 25 August 2013

Lore of the Guardians of the Covenant: Chapter Organisation

Index of the companies of the Guardians of the Covenant and their Masters.

1st Company – Convenio Mentoris “Gathering of Teachers”

The First Company is known as the Covenio Mentoris, its members are called Mentors. It is their task to instruct the neophytes and brothers of the Chapter. Their wisdom is vast and they are each warriors without peer. Traditionally, they are clad in Terminator armour, and like their predecessors, the Deathwing, they operate in elite squads with unique equipment. Even within the elite of the Chapter, there is a core of warriors of even greater prowess and renown. These are the Knights of the Covenant; ancient and wise warriors, carrying arcane relics into battle. The Knights of the Covenant are led by Grand Master Trayarch, the Master of the First Company.

2nd Company – Convenio Venator “Gathering of Hunters”

The Second Company, known as the Convenio Venator, the Gathering of Hunters. This Convenio is an offshoot of the Ravenwing and originally served the same purpose as their primogenitors: the hunt for the Fallen. Over the centuries, the Gathering's paradigm has shifted from hunting the Fallen to becoming a highly mobile surgical strike force. The Convenio specialises in bikes and Land Speeders, the latter of which they can field entire squadrons. The Second Company has an elite core of veterans as well. These are called the Black Knights, similar to their Ravenwing counterparts. The Black Knights wear jet black suits of archaic power armour under their flowing crimson robes and it is their task to hit the enemy where the fighting is fiercest. The Convenio is led by Grand Master Drachyon, who rides into battle Mercurion, an ancient Scimitar-pattern jetbike.

3rd Company – Convenio Tutores “Gathering of Guardians”

The Third Company, the lauded Convenio Tutores or Gathering of Guardians, is the most renowned of the battle companies. It is they who are on the forefront of the many battles the Guardians of the Covenant are involved in, and they serve as the solid backbone of the fighting strength of the Chapter. The history of the Convenio Tutores is a long and glorious one and they are the exemplars of how the Imperium and the Mortikans view the Brothers of the Chapter. The Gathering of Guardians is led by Master Isolder.

4th Company – Convenio Fides “Gathering of Faith”

The Fourth Company, also named the Convenio Fides or Gathering of Faith are the second battle company of the Chapter. They too are part of the backbone on which the Chapter relies. The Convenio Fides has earned renown when the full Company deployed en masse during the Lelith Incursion, where the company, despite heavy losses, was able to hold the line against the shapeshifting ultra-violent tide of Xenos known as the Lelith. The name of the Convenio has its origins in the Reclusiam; it was from this Convenio that the Chaplaincy traditionally recruited its members. The Company is led by Master Tarvanix.

5th Company – Convenio Pares “Gathering of Equals”

The Fifth Company of the Guardians of the Covenant is traditionally the company in which Battle-Brothers first come together as Tactical Marines, hence the name Convenio Pares or Gathering of Equals. In this company a Brother will be first put to the test to utilise all his skills, whether it be assault, devastator or tactical duty. The company rarely deploys in full strength, but instead sends of one or more squads as part of a multi-disciplined strike force led by a Force Commander. The Company is led by Master Zahariel.

6th Company – Convenio Armatura “Gathering of Armour”

The Sixth Company is a deviation from the Codex Astartes as laid down by the Primarch Roboute Guilliman. It is the Sixth Company that mans most of the vehicles in the armory of the Chapter. The Convenio Armatura, or Gathering of Armour holds over a hundred Predator Tanks, Rhinos, Razorbacks, Vindicators, Whirlwinds and Thunderhawks, and many relics such as Deimos Predators, Storm Eagles and even an indomitable Fellblade. The Convenio has a large number of Techmarines which are tasked to maintain the vehicles and dreadnoughts in the armoury. The Company is traditionally led by the Master of the Forge, Luthenas Vairez.

7th Company – Convenio Animus “Gathering of Courage”The Seventh Company, named the Convenio Animus in High Gothic, or come commonly, the Gathering of Courage is a dedicated Devastator Company. After a set period in the Convenio Robus, a Battle-Brother will be transferred to the Convenio Animus to be well versed in the arts of long range warfare. It is these brothers who wield the heaviest weapons the Chapter has to offer. Seldom do they deploy as a Company, rather, like their brothers from the Eighth Company, they get assigned to Force Commanders to fulfil a specific role, often that of heavy fire support or tank hunters. The Gathering of Courage is led by Master Monternus.

8th Company – Convenio Robus “Gathering of Strength”The Eighth Company is the dedicated Assault Company. They are known as the Convenio Robus, the Gathering of Strength. It is in this company that a Battle-Brother gets tutored in the fine arts of close combat by the Company's veteran Astartes, after serving time in the Convenio Consilium. This Convenio is typically divided into ten squads of ten Brothers each, and rarely fights as one. Instead, the brothers within this Convenio are assigned as Assault Squads to other Companies or under the command of a Force Commander. The Company is led by Master Iactohin.

9th Company – Convenio Consilium “Gathering of Wisdom”The Ninth Company, also known as the Convenio Consilium, or Gathering of Wisdom is the Company where a Scout that has passed the Practicum will learn how to fully use and utilise his Power Armour. It is effectively a Reserve Company and a place of learning for Battle-Brothers freshly donning their suits of armour. It is in this Company that those who have not already completed their Theoreticum, will do so. Hence the name the Convenio carries. If the Convenio Discipuli instructs a neophyte on how to be a warrior proper, it is the Convenio Consilium that teaches one to be a Space Marine. The Company is led by Master Bentagal.

10th Company – Convenio Discipuli “Gathering of Students”It is in this very Company that a neophyte will be able to test his mettle against many threats as a Space Marine Scout. Here he will learn what it is to be part of an Astartes fighting force. Be it as stealthy commandos or front line troops. A member of the Tenth Company, the Convenio Discipuli or Gathering of Students will be subjected to a myriad of tests and courses to prepare himself to become a Battle-Brother of the Chapter. As a part of this Company, a Neophyte will be tasked to add a single piece of knowledge or art to the Great Library of the Spire, proving himself a graduate of the Theoreticum as well as the Practicum; earning him the Crimson Robes as well as the iconic gunmetal grey Power Armour. The Company is led by the Master of Recruits, Crastor Vaharix.

The Circle of Sages - Covenio Arcanum "Gathering of Secrets"
While not Chapter Company, the Convenio Arcanum, or Circle of Sages in Low Gothtic, takes an important place within the Chapter. It is effectively the Inner Circle of the Guardians of the Covenant. Where being a member of the Inner Circle originally meant being privy to the most dire of Chapter secrets, the Convenio Arcanum deviated from its primogentor over the centuries. Only the most wise and most celebrated Guardians are asked to join the Circle of Sages. As such, it is comprised mostly of veteran Astartes. There are a few exceptions however. Some Battle-Brothers have joined the Circle after adding an invaluable item to the Librarius of the Spire, or some have shown exceptional bravery in the tide of battle.The Convenio Arcanum is led by the Supreme Grand Master, Xandor Solaceon.